Prayers for Peace

This was forwarded to me from the Long Island Council of Churches :

National Interreligious Leadership Initiative
for Peace in the Middle East
Tel/Fax: (360) 652-4285
E-Mail: usicpme@aol.com

Memo To: Key Local Jewish, Christian and Muslim Leaders - Nationwide
From: Ron Young, NILI

Prayers for Peace: Pre-Annapolis Peace Conference

At a meeting of NILI Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders on Friday, just before our meeting at the State Department, we decided to encourage nationwide prayers for peace in the Middle East at worship services on the weekend before the Annapolis Peace conference convenes. While the date is not yet announced, since the conference is expected to take place in late November or December, including prayers for peace in community Thanksgiving Services would also be timely.

Attached are six "Prayers for Peace in the Middle East" by Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in a format for easy duplication and distribution (copy back to back and cut in half) - for use in Thanksgiving Services and/or in mosques, synagogues and churches on the weekend before the Annapolis Conference convenes. It is suggested that the prayers be sent with letters to Secretary of State Rice, members of Congress and that there be a News Release to the media.

Please let me know what you do. Reaching out to the media about what your community is doing with these Prayers for Peace is especially important since groups opposing any negotiations for peace involving Jerusalem are planning public protest activities during this same period.


Prayers for Peace in the Middle East
For Use Before the Annapolis Peace Conference
From the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative
For Peace in the Middle East
usicpme@aol.com

Sustain together in undiminished hope, O God of hope,
those who continue to
labor with undiminished determination
to build peace in the land from which,
of old,
out of brokenness, violence and destruction,
nevertheless hope
emerged for so many of faith. . . .
Bless all the spiritual seed of Abraham
together
with the light of your Presence.
For in the light of your
Presence
we have found a way of justice and mercy
and a vision of
Peace.
We praise you O God, Giver of Peace,
who commands us to
Peace.
Amen

From:

Rabbi
Herbert Bronstein,
Emeritus

Northshore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, IL

God of mercy and
compassion,
of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your
children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims and Christians,
Palestinians
and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to
hope,
oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent
encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,
and peace and justice could be
experienced by all.
Amen.

From:

The Reverend Said Ailabouni, Senior
Pastor

Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange, IL

In the Name of God,
The Everlasting Merciful, The Cherisher
Of the Worlds and Worthy of all Praise,
Our Lord: You have created us from a single (pair) of a male
And a female and made us into Nations and Tribes that we may
Know one another (not that we may despise each other) so
Help us to love each other and take the hatred and anger from our
Hearts so that People of The Book (Jews, Christians and Muslims)
In the Middle East may live in Peace and Justice.
Amen

From:

Dawud
Ahmad Assad
Council
of Mosques, USA, New York, NY

O God Source of
Life, Creator of Peace. . .
Help Your children, anguished and confused,
To understand the futility of hatred and violence
And grant them the ability to stretch across
Political, religious and national boundaries
So they may confront horror and fear
By continuing together
In the search for justice, peace and truth. . . .
With every fiber of our being, we beg You, O God,
To help us not to fail nor falter.
Amen

From:

Rabbi H. Rolando
Matalon

Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, New York, NY

Lord God,
we turn to you in these trying hours when
conflict is a daily reality for our sisters and
brothers in Israel and Palestine.
We promise you to work to our utmost for
peace and reconciliation in the region. But we
know we cannot do it alone. We very much need the strength
of your presence in our midst if we are to overcome the
obstacles before us. So our prayer at this moment is that
you add your support to our efforts, that you show yourself
as a tower of strength in those moments when the
barriers seem impassable. Together we can become beacons of hope
for just and peaceful societies in the land so very dear
to the peoples of your covenant.
Amen.

From:

Reverend John T. Pawlikowski, OSM

Catholic Theological Union, Chicago,
IL

Almighty God!
After almost a century of mistrust and fratricide,
you inspired Jews, Christians and Muslims to take the path of
reconciliation in the Middle East. . . .
We ask for your forgiveness, O God,
yet we find it hard to forgive our past enemies.
May Your Words touch those who still stray
in the wilderness of vengeful violence,
forgetting your command to "forgive and overlook,
till God accomplishs His Purpose;
for God hath power over all things."
Amen

From:

Abdelwahab
Hechiche

University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

(For more information and/or to become involved in the
Interreligious Intiative for Peace contact: usicpme@aol.com)